santalaceae-snatching

[santalaceae-snatching]

It's been a while since I've had to attend a ball of any kind (not since my time at the KCC, when my taste had run distinctly Umaran-patriotic) and I will say: the process of getting a dress made is very satisfying.

[An image of Nera a large ballgown, styled to appear like an upside-down peony. The bodice seems to have been modeled after older styles of Ispahsalari cuirass, silver plated, and made into an ornately engraved piece attached to similarly stylized pauldrons from which long hanging sleeves emerge. The bottom edge of the bodice has small protruding scalloped edges that resemble sepals. The skirts themselves are voluminous and various hues of a deep purple, layered in such a way to suggest the petals of a flower. She has not been styled otherwise, but she is smiling.]

All credit to the phenomenal Mercia-Valentin for her work here. Working the silver armor of my station into such a gown is a feat that is not to be underestimated, and she went above and beyond in producing one of the most beautiful dresses I've ever seen.

Also, her off the rack work is great too.

[A drone-picture of Nera, Ashlyn (@thelancer27), and Cal'yaa (@calyaa4990), Nera is in her dress, Ashlyn is in a form-fitting sleeveless white dress with red detailing, hexagon print emerging from the bottom of the bottom of the skirt, and long white gloves. Cal'yaa is in an a-line gray dress with gold accents along the hem and purple in the bodice, as well as long, flowing sleeves.]

[santalaceae-snatching]

[I dont think it's nanites, they did put it in the museum proper. Probably some kind of relics!]

[Man, I'm practically a HORUS dog at this point, huh! Just... keep ending up with different people from their group asking me for stuff. Point is. Apparently, there's this big crate with a ton of old stuff from the very beginning of the Sanjak revolution - like, around the time of the first liturgicode ever used to create Kobolds old. Somebody who 'wishes to remain nameless' (hey, can't blame 'em. Look at me.) has paid me a pretty penny (upfront!) to retrieve for them this box of stuff! No idea what the crate contains, but hey, they never said it needed to be given back to them unopened...]

[santalaceae-snatching]

[Man, I'm practically a HORUS dog at this point, huh! Just... keep ending up with different people from their group asking me for stuff. Point is. Apparently, there's this big crate with a ton of old stuff from the very beginning of the Sanjak revolution - like, around the time of the first liturgicode ever used to create Kobolds old. Somebody who 'wishes to remain nameless' (hey, can't blame 'em. Look at me.) has paid me a pretty penny (upfront!) to retrieve for them this box of stuff! No idea what the crate contains, but hey, they never said it needed to be given back to them unopened...]

[santalaceae-snatching]

You know, dear chairman of the great museum Tagetes, I have always had an eye for antiques. Perhaps this is why I took up the job I did, no?

In case you haven't picked up on it yet, this is a formal calling card announcing my purloining of a few Sanjak-related items from your stores. They didn't belong to you in the first place, and they will belong to you no longer. Know this is not a declaration of my political standing, nor is it a show of support for those who continue to fight in Sanjak. This is a mission to return items once stolen, nothing more.

Guard your items well. You'll need all the help you can get.

I really like your museum, by the way. Great exhibits!

Santalaceae

[santalaceae-snatching]

[newposting.omif]

[An image of a desk plate that reads- NERA-MONTAG on the top line, then ADJUTANT-COMMANDANT below.]

There is a small comedy in moving into my newly appointed office. I am not expected to stay in Ispahsalar (no one in command is,) and so it feels like I am moving in with the expectation that I will be moving out in the next month, with strong odds its to the same ship that I came in on!

[santalaceae-snatching]

Local_Storage_Only: Reminder

[the dark will not hurt you. either there is nothing there or there is something there. but the dark will not hurt you. either there is nothing there or there is something there. but the dark will not hurt you. either there is nothing there or there is something there. but the dark will not hurt you. either there is nothing there or there is something there. but the dark will not hurt you. either there is nothing there or there is something there. but the dark will not hurt you. either there is nothing there or there is something there. but the dark will not hurt you. either there is nothing there or there is something there. but the dark will not hurt you. either there is nothing there or there is something there.]

[so how lucky I am]

[santalaceae-snatching]

[Re: Your tags... that sucks! It always hurts when you think you know someone and they show their true colours... I hope you can find/have found people who truly do know you, it is a gift to have those around.

I don't think I could ever find my mystery woman, let alone confess to her. Really, it was a once in a lifetime encounter.]

[Good news... feeling a bit recovered. Gonna try and do some scheming for my next heist - not really sure how to go bigger than my last one, though. I suppose a few little items will suffice for the time being.

Um. If you know who I ended up drunkposting about. Please don't tell her? I don't even know where that came from, I only ever met her once. Fucking Karrakin poetry seeping into my neurons.]

[santalaceae-snatching]

[Good news... feeling a bit recovered. Gonna try and do some scheming for my next heist - not really sure how to go bigger than my last one, though. I suppose a few little items will suffice for the time being.

Um. If you know who I ended up drunkposting about. Please don't tell her? I don't even know where that came from, I only ever met her once. Fucking Karrakin poetry seeping into my neurons.]

[santalaceae-snatching]

I'm proud to announce that I've been told I'm recieving a promotion to the Second in Command of les Fulgurites. I'm honored to be selected to bear such a burden, and excited to see what the future brings.

[asteria_meeting.omaf]

[An audio recording seemingly produced from a device hidden on Nera's person. The contents have been auto-transcribed via comp/con below.]

ASTERIA: Nera. It is good to speak to you.

NERA: You always say that like it's a joke, Commander.

ASTERIA: Perhaps that will change when you stop toying with me, Nera. What do you want?

NERA: I would like to be advanced in my role on the command track. Your initial timeline had me stationed here after my rookie year. That year just ended, yet I am told I will be sent back out again after festival season.

ASTERIA: I determined you need an additional year of experience and besides, none of the positions here have opened yet.

NERA: This is not what was agreed upon.

ASTERIA: Why do you want this so bad?

NERA:

NERA: I would like to limit my piloting hours.

ASTERIA: You spoke with the Baron a while ago, and I'm told he already gave you a way to do that. Why didn't you take his offer, if that's what you want?

NERA: What offer, Commander?

ASTERIA: Don't play dumb with me. He was offering you heir.

NERA: Oh, that? Because you are going to give me second in command.

ASTERIA: Am I now?

NERA: Yes.

[The click of plastic hitting wood.]

ASTERIA: What is that?

NERA: A data chit. You really don't want it leaving this office.

ASTERIA: Nera, blackmailing your commanding officer is not the time to be coy.

NERA: It is a collection of journal entries from one Anahera Kauri of the House of Smoke, House of Sand special operations logs, unsecured camera feeds from the Inverted Tower, the contents of a file dated 4992 buried deep in secured Karrakin Cavalry College Archives, and a collection of blinkgate travel logs, for good measure.

ASTERIA: You don't have—

NERA: In 4992 you were a student at the Karrakin Cavalry College and fell madly in love with a woman, a noble of the House of Smoke, named Anahera Kauri. However, she was already engaged to one Arte-Chiron of the House of Sand. You pursued her anyway, and entered a whirlwind relationship, and when he caught you one night in her chambers he challenged you to a duel. Need I continue?

ASTERIA: You do. Everything you've said so far has been long since laid to rest.

NERA: The time of the duel was right then, not in chassis but on foot, and without College approval. You gathered your gear and went to the dueling fields, where the terms of your duel were decided. Bladed weapons, no shields, but the condition of victory was unclear. 'To first blood,' you said, but he insisted that no, it would end only in surrender or death.

NERA: His terms were taken. For the better for you, for he took first blood and you learned quickly that his blades were poisoned. Regardless, you persisted. You took the advantage soon after, and gave him wounds that would cause any other man to concede on the spot. But he persisted. You would later tell Anahera that you believe that he still fought because you had entered a dangerous game of attrition: he was losing blood, yes, but you were poisoned and beginning to feel it. He was gambling that you would lose your grip first.

ASTERIA: That's enough.

NERA: No, you asked and I deliver, Commander. He was correct in a way but not to his benefit. None of your blows were meant to be lethal but you slowly lost your capacity to aim, and in the process you punctured one of his lungs. The medical authorities were too slow to save him. In the end he died gasping.

NERA: You were expelled from the College, of course, unsanctioned dueling alone would have done that, but the question of murder was resolved behind closed doors. His father was the House of Sand representative on the Baronic Council, and his murder could spark interhouse conflict. In the end a deal was reached. The crime would be covered up, but the House of Sand would handle your punishment, and you would never be allowed to see Anahera Kauri again.

ASTERIA: That's e—

NERA: Your service to the House of Sand lasted five years and resembled that of a loyal member, though. Your punishment was extensive, sure, but they opted to use your skills as a pilot to flush six different suspected Ungratefuls cells in the Concern and countless others labeled "pirates" besides. Upon return, you were given les Fulgurites for this expertise.

NERA: Now, all of this would have the tabloids eating for years, but do you know the most interesting part?

ASTERIA: You've made your point, Nera.

NERA: The most interesting part is that you never stopped talking to Anahera. She bought you an apartment in the Inverted Tower ten years ago. You still visit regularly under a pseudonym. Her son calls you "momma." As far as I can tell, no one besides the two of you know this.

ASTERIA: You want second in command.

NERA: I do. And I assume you read my file. You know that getting rid of me doesn't make this problem go away for you.

ASTERIA: I do.

NERA: Good. Are we done here?

ASTERIA:

ASTERIA: I think you are.

[Shuffling, the sliding of plastic across wood.]

NERA: Keep this chit, cousin, as a reminder. I have plenty others.

[santalaceae-snatching]

[All these ignobles were lying to me, this mead is weak as shit!]

[santalaceae-snatching]

HEY GUYS HOW DO YOU DELETE OMNINET POSTS TIME SENSITIVE

[santalaceae-snatching]

[video_6723.omaf]

[A slate is clumsly tapped at by painted nails, flickering on in a dim room. The camera catches an unflattering close-up of glossy lips as Lacey holds it close to her face, finger clearly having accidentally hit the record button. The slate is set down on its front after a brief moment, audio catching the crinkling of sheets before she begins speaking. Her voice is heavily accented, soft and low - alcohol muddling her mind and causing her to fully drop the common voice she puts on.]

not many people know this about me, but i am an avid reader. story after play after poem i consumed, as if they were my oaisis in a desert of boredom. though i tended towards stories of great heroes, something in me was always fascinated by the romantic epics penned by authors upon authors.

one might think my interest came from a place of yearning, of desire. but truthfully, it came from a place of deep confusion. of misunderstanding. i had never before in my life felt the things these stories spoke of - a glimpse across a room that sets a heart aflutter, a whispered dalliance, hushed voices giving way to muffled gasps...

i have had much sex in my life. it is the best way to try and carve out individuality for yourself, a way to desperately attempt to believe yourself desirable or wanted or, passions forbid, needed. but i have never participated in the act with someone who i truly wanted, nor someone who truly wanted me.

a few months ago, my mother dragged me to yet another ball - a tired affair, a song and dance i had long since perfected. i performed, i spun, i did as was told.

and then i met her.

the stories were right. they have always been right, from the dredges of boddice-rippers to the sonnets of poets. you will lock eyes with someone across a crowded ballroom and you will know, deep in your soul, that you are destined to be irrevocably changed by that person - for better or for worse.

i cannot remember much of what she looked like - i was quite drunk by that point - but i am haunted in my weakest moments by piercing golden eyes and the gentle fluttering of eagle's feathers. by a voice, gritty as sand. by a woman who looked me in my eyes and saw me for the person i truly am, not the masks i put on again and again.

i alway s wanted to fuck her]

[All these ignobles were lying to me, this mead is weak as shit!]

[santalaceae-snatching]

[All these ignobles were lying to me, this mead is weak as shit!]

[santalaceae-snatching]

[Oh, haha, no need for formalities!

Well. I guess kinda need. But honestly I'm not going to attack you over someone hacking you, that would be silly!

Keeping an NHP foreverguarding seems like a lot of time and effort. You could always set up a network of failsafes, keep a collection of different backups upon backups to trip no matter what is sent to you. Or maybe, if Sacred Symbol allows, do a brain scan of them and create a program with their skills to watch over your account! That would take strain off of them, and help you with your problem.

HORUS seems... confusing. Though, I guess that's true for any group scattered throughout the net, no?

rasfavoritekitty: ooooh a fellow doer of mischief and misdeeds

rasfavoritekitty: we should do some crimes together i bet you could get paracode onto the stonelords computer

( @she-who-paints-with-fire )

[My friend. You are a genius.

I feel like they miiiiight kill me about it, but it never hurts to try!

Well. It might hurt a little. Or at lot. Depends on what their security is!]

[santalaceae-snatching]

[Oh, wow, that escalated quickly!

An eternal hall of mirrors seems very scary. I would really much prefer to not havw that happen to me!

That being said, I'm a thief - not an assassin. My whole goal is to steal from rich folks and give to those lesser, and I intend to do it in as gentlemanly a way as possible. Trapping a man in his own consciousness for the rest of eternity is neither gentlemanly nor kind, and I can't in good conscience endorse or assist you in this. Code on a computer is one thing. Torture is another. ]

rasfavoritekitty: ooooh a fellow doer of mischief and misdeeds

rasfavoritekitty: we should do some crimes together i bet you could get paracode onto the stonelords computer

( @she-who-paints-with-fire )

[My friend. You are a genius.

I feel like they miiiiight kill me about it, but it never hurts to try!

Well. It might hurt a little. Or at lot. Depends on what their security is!]

[santalaceae-snatching]

rasfavoritekitty: ooooh a fellow doer of mischief and misdeeds

rasfavoritekitty: we should do some crimes together i bet you could get paracode onto the stonelords computer

( @she-who-paints-with-fire )

[My friend. You are a genius.

I feel like they miiiiight kill me about it, but it never hurts to try!

Well. It might hurt a little. Or at lot. Depends on what their security is!]

[santalaceae-snatching]

[For once, no plotting here! Honestly, I think the Harlequin has been in the background of my life for a long time now, but she didn't choose to pull me in her direction until now. I was a little too focused on other things.

The Broker is an interesting Passion, and Passions know I've met quite a few people who pledge themselves to their call. Making good deals is a skill I want to get better at - I've always had a hand for writing, but the specific intricacies escape me. Maybe you could help me pick up some tips and tricks someday?

Now that I think of it, the greatest downside to having few other Karrakin friends on here is that I am now enraptured by the question of what Passion holds everyone's Solar Bonds, because while I feel I can guess for some of you it feels disrespectful to do so and besides. That is not the same as knowing.